For the first time, the U.S. military has used autonomous maritime systems in combat. U.S. Central Command confirmed that unmanned surface vessels participated in strikes against Iranian naval facilities as part of ongoing efforts to protect commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
On July 12, U.S. forces conducted a series of strikes against Iranian targets using fighter jets, naval ships, one-way attack drones, and unmanned sea drones. These attacks targeted air-defense systems, coastal radar sites, missile and drone capabilities, and small boats.
In a separate update, CENTCOM announced that three Corsair unmanned surface vessels attacked a submarine and ship maintenance facility at Bandar Abbas Naval Base. This marks the first time U.S. forces have used sea drones in combat.
Yesterday, using multiple one-way attack surface drones, CENTCOM forces successfully struck a submarine and ship maintenance facility in Iran. Three Corsair unmanned surface vessels hit the port at Bandar Abbas Naval Base, marking the first time American forces have employed sea… pic.twitter.com/bOM2kmgRxz
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) July 13, 2026
This combat use comes just weeks after another significant moment for autonomous maritime systems. In June, a U.S. Navy-operated Saronic Corsair autonomous surface vessel rescued two U.S. Army pilots after their AH-64 Apache helicopter crashed off the coast of Oman. This is believed to be the first known personnel recovery performed by an unmanned surface vessel.
According to CENTCOM, the helicopter went down during patrol operations near Oman. A spokesperson later confirmed that a Saronic Corsair successfully retrieved the pilots from the water and transported them to a helicopter for evacuation.
Hawkins explained, "The drone picked them up and transported them to another location on the water where they were hoisted up to a helicopter for further transport."
This rescue was conducted by U.S. Naval Forces Central Command and Task Force 59, which focuses on integrating unmanned systems and AI into maritime operations.
Together, these two operations show how quickly the U.S. military is evolving its use of autonomous maritime systems. Previously, unmanned surface vessels were mainly used for surveillance and testing. Now, in just over a month, the same Corsair platform has been involved in both rescuing downed pilots and conducting offensive operations against Iranian military targets.
The Corsair is a 24-foot autonomous vessel created by Texas-based Saronic, designed for maritime security, surveillance, and logistics. It can operate autonomously or under remote control, carrying loads of up to 1,000 pounds over distances greater than 1,000 nautical miles.
Saronic has quickly become a leading company in the maritime autonomy sector. In April, they secured $1.75 billion in Series D funding, reaching a valuation of $9.25 billion. They have since expanded their autonomous vessel lineup with larger models, including the 52-foot Mirage and the 180-foot Marauder.
The recent combat use of these vessels also highlights the growing role of Task Force 59, which has been working to integrate autonomous vessels into maritime security operations across various regions including the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea. Established in September 2021, Task Force 59 is the U.S. Navy’s first Unmanned and Artificial Intelligence Task Force.
The use of autonomous drones has also been informed by lessons learned from the war in Ukraine, where drone boats have successfully targeted Russian vessels and forced military relocations.
As tensions between the U.S. and Iran continue, autonomous vessels are evolving from experimental technologies to key tools in both lifesaving missions and precise offensive actions, all while minimizing risks to U.S. personnel.